San Francisco Opera's Bohème Out of the Box Comes to South San Francisco's Orange Memorial Park March 17-19
Free Mobile Stage Performances of Puccini's La Bohème (Abriged Version) Travels to East Bay, Peninsula and South Bay Through April 2
Boheme out of the box comes to south san francisco.pdf Photos
San Francisco, CA (March 14, 2023) — San Francisco Opera is taking opera out of the Opera House and to outdoor locations throughout the Bay Area each weekend through April 2. This week, Bohème Out of the Box comes to South San Francisco for three free performances at Orange Memorial Park on March 17 (7:30 p.m.), 18 (7:30 p.m.) and 19 (2 p.m.). Additional performances will follow in Los Gatos (March 24–26) and Dublin (March 31–April 2).
The first opera to be presented by San Francisco Opera 100 years ago, La Bohème, composer Giacomo Puccini’s popular work about love and loss among a group of bohemian artists, will be performed in an intimate 75-minute version on a converted shipping container-turned-mobile opera stage. Directed by Jose Maria Condemi, Bohème Out of the Box features a cast of San Francisco Opera’s young artists-in-residence, the Adler Fellows, and guest artists with keyboard accompaniment. These free performances bring La Bohème’s powerful emotions and soaring music to Bay Area communities as part of the Company’s Centennial Season.
Pre-Opera Talks at the front of the stage are offered 45 minutes before showtime for all Friday and Saturday evening performances. Families with young children are invited to attend First Act Workshops 45 minutes before showtime at all Sunday matinée performances.
Bohème Out of the Box is a free event. Registration at sfopera.com/box is encouraged but not required. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis, and audiences are encouraged to bring their own low camp or lawn chairs. For complete information about each venue and for updates, visit sfopera.com/box.
PLEASE NOTE: In the event of rain and inclement weather, these outdoor performances may be cancelled or delayed. Register at sfopera.com/box to receive updates via email and follow @sfopera on social media.
For more information about San Francisco Opera’s 2022–23 Centennial Season, visit sfopera.com/100.
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SAN FRANCISCO OPERA PRESENTS BOHÈME OUT OF THE BOX
Bohème Out of the Box runs approximately 75 minutes with no intermission and features keyboard accompaniment. Performed in Italian with English dialogue.
Synopses and librettos for Bohème Out of the Box are available in both English and Spanish at sfopera.com/box.
Free Pre-Opera Talks, designed to guide audiences through key points of the story and music, are offered in front of the stage 45 minutes before showtime at all Friday and Saturday evening performances. The Pre-Opera Talks in South San Francisco will be led by San Francisco Opera Dramaturg Emeritus Dr. Clifford “Kip” Cranna.
Free First Act Workshops are offered for families with young children 45 minutes before showtime at all Sunday matinées. Take an imaginary trip to the lively Café Momus in Paris, one of the settings of Puccini’s La Bohème, and discover the group of artists who gather there. Bring along a favorite stuffed-animal friend and dance to “Musetta’s Waltz,” one of the most famous melodies in all of opera.
For complete information about each venue and for updates, visit sfopera.com/box.
PLEASE NOTE: In the event of rain and inclement weather, these outdoor performances may be cancelled or delayed. Register at sfopera.com/box to receive updates via email and follow @sfopera on social media.
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
March 17–19, 2023
Orange Memorial Park, 781 Tennis Drive, South San Francisco, 94080
Pre-show activities:
Pre-Opera Talk: Friday, March 17 (6:45 p.m.)
Pre-Opera Talk: Saturday, March 18 (6:45 p.m.)
First Act Workshop: Sunday, March 19 (1:15 p.m.)
Performances / Cast:
Friday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. – Olivia Smith (Mimì), Arianna Rodriguez (Musetta), Victor Cardamone (Rodolfo), Marika Yasuda (Pianist)
Saturday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. – Mikayla Sager (Mimì), Nikola Printz (Musetta), Edward Graves (Rodolfo), Yang Lin (Pianist)
Sunday, March 19 at 2 p.m. – Olivia Smith (Mimì), Arianna Rodriguez (Musetta), Victor Cardamone (Rodolfo), Marika Yasuda (Pianist)
Additional casting for all performances:
Jongwon Han (Colline), Timothy Murray (Marcello), Philip Skinner (Benoit/Alcindoro), Daniel Cilli (Schaunard)
Creative/Technical Team:
Jose Maria Condemi (Stage Director), Ryan O’Steen (Set Supervisor), Justin Partier (Lighting Designer), Cassandra Carpenter (Costume Coordinator & Supervisor)
In partnership with The City of South San Francisco, Bohème Out of the Box is coming to Orange Memorial Park, just down the hill from the iconic “Industrial City” sign where San Francisco and Peninsula meet. South San Francisco’s premier park features a walking trail, a sports complex and a playground, and the stage will be located in the parking lot directly behind the Joseph Fernekes Recreation Building with a eucalyptus grove as its backdrop.
Audiences are encouraged to bring their own low camp or lawn chairs and pick a spot on a first-come, first-served basis. A limited number of folding chairs will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Food and drinks are allowed and a number of local food trucks will offer food for purchase. Beer and wine will be sold by South San Francisco Friends of Parks and Recreation and the South San Francisco Cultural Arts Commission. Proceeds from the sales will support the South San Francisco Friends of Parks and Recreation’s non-profit volunteer citizen's group organized to support parks, programs and facilities; as well as arts programming and acquisition, and the Jack Drago Cultural Arts Commission Youth Art Scholarship, presented annually to graduating seniors from the South San Francisco Unified School District pursuing continued education in the arts.
Parking is available in or around Orange Memorial Park on a first come, first served basis. Orange Memorial Park is centrally located between South San Francisco Bart station (1.6 miles) and San Bruno Bart station (1.5 miles), and the El Camino Real bus line runs nearby. Walkers can take advantage of Centennial Trail which connects to Orange Memorial Park from both the South San Francisco and San Bruno Bart stations.
Bike racks are located throughout the park, including adjacent to the playground and Orange Pool off of Tennis Dr.
Visit the City of South San Francisco’s webpage for complete information about venue transit and parking information, food options and FAQs.
For the complete press release, including calendar, open the PDF version above.